A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The BEACON Act seeks to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish an Office of Inspector General within the Executive Office of the President. This bill requires the President to appoint an Inspector General for this office within 120 days of the Act's enactment. It grants the President specific authority to control audits or investigations involving confidential sources, intelligence matters, or undercover operations. The bill also mandates semiannual reports to the President and Congress regarding the office's functions and any limitations faced. Additionally, it requires periodic evaluations to assess and address the classification of material within the Executive Office of the President.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill centralizes presidential authority over specific Inspector General investigations and subpoenas.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates semiannual reports to Congress and evaluations of information classification practices.
- Scored +2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill aims to detect and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within the Executive Office of the President.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Oversight of the Executive Office: The establishment of an Office of Inspector General in the Executive Office of the President provides a mechanism for the detection and elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse in programs and operations (Section 2(b)(1)(D)).
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Transparency Regarding Information Access: The Inspector General must include a certification in semiannual reports regarding whether they had full and direct access to all relevant information, which provides clarity on the scope of their oversight (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
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Accountability for Restricted Investigations: If the President prohibits an investigation or subpoena, they must provide a written notice to the Inspector General stating the reasons for that power, which is then transmitted to Congress (Section 2(b)(1) and Section 2(b)(2)).
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Monitoring of Information Classification: The bill requires evaluations to identify management practices that may contribute to the persistent misclassification of material, which may help ensure classification policies are followed effectively (Section 2(d)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Presidential Control Over Specific Investigations: The President is granted authority, direction, and control over the Inspector General regarding audits, investigations, or subpoenas that require access to information concerning confidential sources, intelligence/counterintelligence matters, or undercover operations (Section 2(b)(a)(1)).
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Power to Prohibit Oversight: The President has the power to prohibit the Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing an audit or investigation, or from issuing a subpoena, if the President determines it is necessary to prevent the disclosure of specific sensitive information (Section 2(b)(a)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill centralizes presidential authority over specific Inspector General investigations and subpoenas. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates semiannual reports to Congress and evaluations of information classification practices. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill establishes protocols for protecting confidential sources and sensitive intelligence information.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill aims to detect and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within the Executive Office of the President.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill includes oversight of information classification and intelligence matters which relates to national security integrity.
- 11/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 7/21/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gilbert CisnerosDemocrat · California
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mary Gay ScanlonDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Hillary ScholtenDemocrat · Michigan
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia